A method of operating a vehicle with continuously variable transmission

A method for operating a motor vehicle such as a passenger car, which is equipped with a motor and an electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission includes the steps of: detecting a driving state defined by downhill travel; detecting the speed of the vehicle at the start of the downhill travel and storing the vehicle speed; continuously changing the transmission in such a manner that the vehicle speed is substantially maintained while utilizing the braking action of the motor thereby defining a downhill travel motor braking mode of operation; and/or, detecting possible slip at the wheels of the motor vehicle and adjusting a corresponding other, lower gear ratio continuously on the transmission so that the slip is reduced or is entirely eliminated thereby defining a slip-adjustment mode of operation; and/or, detecting if a braking operation is present and, during braking operation, continuously adjusting the transmission by changing the gear ratio to support the brakes of the motor vehicle to define a brake-supporting mode of operation; and/or, continuously changing the gear ratio of the transmission by means of a manually operated actuating device with the change being carried out within the limits of the highest and lowest gear ratio as long as the manual actuation takes place thereby defining a manual mode of operation.